The City of Menlo Park, as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the following application:
General Plan Amendment, Zoning Ordinance Amendment, Rezoning, Conditional Development Permit, Development Agreement, Architectural Control, and Vesting Tentative Map/Nick Menchel/333 Ravenswood Avenue (Parkline):
The Parkline Master Plan Project, proposed by LPGS Menlo, LLC commonly referred to as “Lane Partners” would redevelop the SRI International Campus with a mix of uses consisting of primarily residential and office/research and development (R&D) uses, with small restaurant and potentially retail components, through either the Proposed Project or the Project Variant. The applicant is pursuing the Project Variant, which differs from the Proposed Project by incorporating the property at 201 Ravenswood Avenue into the Project Site, including up to 800 residential dwelling units instead of up to 550, and the addition of a potential below-grade emergency water storage reservoir, well and associated equipment. The Project Variant includes the following components:
- 646 residential dwelling units, inclusive of 97 below market rate units, (46 townhome-style units in two components and 600 apartments in two multifamily buildings);
- An approximately 1.6-acre portion of land, to be dedicated to an affordable housing developer for the future construction of a 100% affordable housing development project of up to 154 dwelling units;
- Retaining three existing buildings (approximately 286,730 square feet) for SRI's continued operation in Menlo Park;
- Demolition of two buildings at 201 Ravenswood Ave. and approximately 1.1 million square feet within 35 buildings on the SRI campus, to be replaced with five office/R&D/life science buildings, a new office amenity building, and three parking structures;
- No net increase of non-residential square footage beyond existing square footage;
- Decommissioning of the existing 6-megawatt natural gas power plant;
- Inclusion of community-serving space within the 100 percent affordable building; and
- A potential below-grade emergency water storage reservoir below the publicly accessible park space along Ravenswood Avenue, in addition to a well and associated above ground equipment, to be built and operated by the city of Menlo Park.
In total, the Project Variant would result in approximately 2,187,600 sf of mixed-use development, including approximately 1,091,600 sf of office/R&D uses and approximately 1,096,000 sf of residential uses. Approximately 29.9 acres of private and publicly accessible open space would be developed at the Variant Project Site, including a network of publicly accessible bicycle and pedestrian trails, open spaces, and active/passive recreational areas. The Project Variant includes the removal of 246 heritage trees and 546 non-heritage trees, and the planting of 1,392 new trees.
The proposed conditional development permit includes modifications to the development regulations in the proposed C-1-S zoning district, and establishes project specific design standards, signage requirements, transportation demand management (TDM) requirements, regulations for hazardous materials, and the process for future architectural reviews for building and site design. The Project Variant also includes a request for the use and storage of hazardous materials (diesel fuel) for back-up emergency generators. A development agreement would be entered into between the City and the applicant for the provision of community benefits, development controls, and vested rights.
As part of the Proposed Project or Project Variant, certain off-site improvements would be constructed, including a new traffic signal at the intersection of Seminary Drive and Middlefield Road, bike lane enhancements within Laurel Street and Burgess Drive, improvements along the Project frontage on Ravenswood Avenue, curb changes on Ravenswood Avenue to accommodate left turn pockets, and realignment of West 4th Street (which is within the Project Site).
The Project Variant site is currently zoned “C-1(X)” (Administrative and Professional District, Restrictive), “P” (Parking) and R-1-S (Single Family Suburban Residential) and aside from 201 Ravenswood Avenue, is governed by a Conditional Development Permit (CDP) approved in 1975, and subsequently amended in 1978, 1997, and 2004.
The requested City actions and entitlements for the proposed Project include General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and zoning map amendments, rezoning, conditional development permit, development agreement, vesting tentative map, below market rate (BMR) housing agreement, and environmental review.
During the meeting, the Planning Commission will consider the Proposed Project or Project Variant and whether to adopt a resolution recommending approval to the City Council of the following:
- Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report, adoption of the CEQA findings and statement of overriding considerations for significant environmental effects, and approval of the mitigation monitoring and reporting program for the Project Variant;
- General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and zoning map amendments to allow for the proposed land uses (intensity and density) and outline development regulations and standards for the Project Variant;
- Rezoning of the project site from C-1(X) (Administrative and Professional District, (Restrictive)), R-1-S (Residential Single Family, Suburban), and P (Parking) to the proposed C-1-S (Administrative, Professional and Research, Special District) and to include the “X” Conditional Development combining district overlay;
- A conditional development permit to establish allowed uses, development regulations, parking maximums, design standards, signage, and otherwise govern the development of the proposed Project Variant;
- A vesting tentative map to manage parcelization to implement the masterplan, abandon existing easements and future reserved rights-of-way, identify new public access and utility easements, and site infrastructure;
- A development agreement between the City and the Project applicant for vested rights in exchange for community benefits and assurances on the phasing of the proposed Project Variant;
- A below market rate housing agreement for the provision of approximately 97 on-site BMR units (inclusionary units) in accordance with the City’s BMR Ordinance and to dedicate an approximately 1.6-acre parcel to a non-profit affordable housing developer to provide up to 154 BMR units in a 100% affordable component of the Project.
The Final EIR will be available on the City’s website at menlopark.gov/Parkline, starting Monday, July 7, 2025. A hard copy will be available for review at the Main Library, 800 Alma Street, and the Belle Haven Branch Library, 413 Ivy Drive. Interested parties should inquire at the library information desk.
The Planning Commission will be conducted as a hybrid meeting, virtually via Zoom and in the City Council Chambers, 751 Laurel Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025, on Monday, July 28, 2025, beginning at 7 p.m. or as near as possible thereafter, at which time and place interested person may appear and be thereon.
Written comments may be submitted to Principal Planner Corinna Sandmeier or mailed to:
Corinna Sandmeier
Community Development
701 Laurel St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Email correspondence is preferred.